The Penn's Grove record., 1887-07-02

TaulL was neT lmpulSlVcIeSS, her 1rlenOS
said. Then she asked what was GER
tainIy a very irrelevant and odd ques-
tlon.
"Bixby, did anybody ever kiss you?"
mo, ma'am," shaking her head
positively.
"Did anybody evertelI you they loved
your"
"Love mel" cried Blxby; her tone
was a protest. Then suddenly her chin
~quivered and she said: Nobody loves
me; l hain't got no folksl"
"poor thingl" and Violet's soft
hand smGothed the shock of closely
cropped hair.
II hev tried to be a good girl to Miss
Kelly. she said. 81 alters 40 jist what
I'm told, but the children tell lies
about me, an Miss Kelly she says L
aInt wuth my salt. an Pete broke the
blue bowl l never fetched, an he said
twas me, an she whipped me orful,
an shet me up In the granny with the
rats all night, "and here the tears came
into her eyes.
The blacksmith 8 hammer had ceased
its blinking, and he was seen, with his
apron on, critically examining the
phaeton, while Pete led Lady out of
the shop. Meanwhile a 6eshy, hard
featured woman came out of the house
down to Violet.
81 see Blxby is a-talkin' to you.
Bixby is a bad girl, she tells lies. She
isn't with her salt" the nasal voice
continued. 1T was the worst bargain
l even made takin' such a creetur from
the poor-house. I've done a good deal
fur her, but Pm sick and tired. Pm
goin' to take her back to the poor
house. l says so to my man last night.
Out she goes, Nate" says I, 'bag and
~baggagel"
''Tlsn't truel'' sobbed Bixby, the
tears streaming down her cheeks. 81
hev triedI l hev done all she told me-"
Impulslve Violeti she turned and
placed her hand upon the girl and said:
81 think l can make this little girl
useful; 1 will take her home with meln
Mrs. Kelly stood as one paralyzed.
This was a sequel of which she had
never dreamed. Her threat of taking
Bixby back to the poor-house had been
mere idle vaporing. Bixby's salt"
had been rated very highly.
Bixby gasped; establishment over
whelmed her, her world seemed falling
into chaos. she hardly knew how she
went and got her sun-bonnet-she had
little else to gather up. She had never
had any possessions, unless 1t was a
bottle-shaped gourd and some valueless
old buttons.
81 must kiss the babyr' she cried.
You shan't neitherI" said Mrs.
Kelly, spltefully; ''you shan't touch
hlml'
lie crowed on the floor, a pudgy little
thing; he had never been unkind to
Bixby, and she loved him.
Goodbye, Jimmy" she said, de-
vouring him with her eyes. Then she
crossed Mrs. Kelly's threshold for the
last time.
Another page of her life was ended.
81 never was so surprised in all my
life" said Violet Fenn's mother to her
pretty daughter-ln-law. Elise, ''as when
Violet brought little Bixby home with
her."
Surprised was a mild statement, for
she would not have been more astound.
ed at an interruption Of Goths and
Vandals on their charming lakeside
village.
Her household was small. and ran as
if on velvet. She had two servants,
John and Maria, who had been with
her for years. Bixby was certainly not
needed, and there would be much diff
Guilty in adjusting her to her proper
position. A great many mole-holes
elevated themselves into mountains be.
fore the good lady discovered that. after
all, things went on about as usual, and
Bixby was the most tractable and eager
to serve of dependencies.
II really can not see how you can
suffer such a miserable creature about"
said Elise, whose idol was self. "She
has that miserable, low-down look l
despise, and her freckles are as big as
clock-wheels, and her foot is a most
fearful and wonderful thing. Give her
an inch and she'll take an ell. She has
a chance, too, to make up all sorts OF
lies to impose on your credulty. Mother
Fem, you are too good; that is the
trouble with you'll You Will find her
out by and by for a selfish, ungrateful
thing"
Really, Elise" said Mrs. Fem,
driven to speak in behalf of Violet's
protege, ''she is better than she looks.
She does not lie-I do not think-her
stories never change; and she is the
most obedient little thing, and she
picks up faster than you would think;
Maria has taught her to lay the cloth
nicely already. and she knows what a
napkin Is for; and she has learned the
Lords Prayer; think Of 1t, she had
never prayed in her llfel her religious
ideas are the cradest possible. She said
1t seemed to her that Violet must be
Gods wife, the day she brought her
here"
~'ShockingI" said Elise, Grossly. 81
do not see, mother, how you tolerate
her for a moment"
But how changed was Bixby's world
what q largess of life happiness had
brought herl She was not a demon
styative child; Violet even did not know
how she rejoIced and kept continual
Jubilee. She had fairly gasped for
breath when taken to her OWN room.
1t was . small hall-bedroom. with a
sunny, white. curtained window, cool
mating on the floor, and a pretty oak
set. Was this hers-that that seemed
like the palace of "a kingr Everything
so exqulsitely fresh and neat, and a
charming engraving Of q cherub smiled
down on her from the tinted wall. 1t
was Heavenl She was not dt, but she
would try so hard to be worthy. Years
passed-one, two. three, ~four-years
that brought little change to Mrs.
Fem and Violet, but worked wonders
with Bixby. She was NO longer a white
heather, but was one Of the most ell
Gent aids in the domestic machinery.
One Spring Violet went to New York
to visit friends, and Elise sent over
during her absence to borrow Blxby.
she had long ago found out that Blxby
was a faithful soul, and excellent to
look after children. In fact her little
ones were so fond OF her that they were
restless and intraetibie under their
French bonne's peppery rule, and now